PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Women Parliamentary Caucus has asked the relevant authorities to abstain from appointing male workers in women welfare facilities like Darul Amans in the entire province.

The directives came at a meeting of Women Parliamentary Caucus chaired by Sumera Shams in Peshawar on Monday. The meeting discussed affairs of women welfare facilities in KP. It was attended by members of KP Assembly Madeeha Nisar, Sajida Hanif and Rehana Ismail besides Director Social Welfare, Gender Specialist and representatives of various welfare organisations.

Participants of meeting were briefed about the progress on reforms being made in Darul Amans. Meeting was also informed about appointment of psychologist, legal experts and new staff members in these welfare centres to facilitate the women who take shelter at these centres due to various problems.

It was shared that concrete steps have been taken for establishment of Darul Amans in the province while in some areas these women facilities are being also set up in ranted building due to unavailability of suitable space.

Sumera Shams reviewed progress on establishment of Darul Aman in Lower Dir, and directed speeding up of the process. She directed that the relevant authorities should abstain from appointing male staff in Darul Amans. She said that similar menu has been implemented in Darul Amans under same food policy ensuring continuous provision of food items. She said food policy has been adopted after consultation of nutritionist.

Sumera said five advisory committees have been constituted for Darul Amans of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa comprising psychologists, gynecologists, women police workers, legal experts and representatives of local government.

The number of women affected due to social injustices, sexual violence, kidnapping, early marriages and other problems landing in Darul Amans is increasing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to official figures. The data shows that over 5,000 women were brought to Darul Aman in KP during the last five years.

So many women had to leave their house and seek shelter in Darul Aman due to social injustices. However, work on the legislation for four Darul Amans in KP could not be progressed. In KP, as many as 1,113 women, who become victims of domestic violence, divorce, mental torture and other problems, on average, have to go to Darul Aman.

As many as 1,850 women are currently availing shelter in Darul Aman in Swat, 1,760 in Mardan, 1,009 in Abbottabad and 869 in Peshawar.